&#34;In-line&#34; spectral reference method for spectrometers
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a method of introducing a reference material into the optical path of a single-beam spectrometer in order to dynamically measure the superimposed absorption spectrum of the reference material in real-time and to use this spectrum for the purpose of spectral calibration and drift compensation. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Chief among the advantages of this approach is that a dedicated optical beam for reference is not required. In addition, the entire optical system, including the sample and sampling accessories, are included in the calibration and compensation loop. 
     This &#34;in-line&#34; reference is implemented with a rapidly rotating wheel 205 external to the monochromator, placed in the optical path. Wheel 205 is fabricated such that &#34;open&#34; segments 220 alternate with segments 210 composed of the reference material. The reference material (typically, but not limited, to polystyrene) is largely transparent with a predetermined distinctive and stable absorption spectrum. 
     The method of the present invention is set forth in FIG. 1. Generally, rotation of the wheel 205 is synchronized with the scanning of monochromator to acquire alternating spectral scans, first of the instrument and sample only; and, second of the instrument, sample and reference material. These spectra are compared in such a way to extract the spectrum of the reference material alone from the total spectrum, and use the information contained in this reference spectrum for real-time, dynamic spectral calibration and drift compensation. 
     More specifically, step 100 of the method involves the emission of light samples using a monochromator. In step 200, the wheel 205 is synchronized with the scanning of monochromator 100 to acquire alternating spectral scans, first of the instrument and sample only; and, second of the instrument, sample and reference material output spectrum is scanned with alternately spaced material. In step 300, the output is sampled and detected by an electronic detection module in Step 400. In step 500, the converted electrical signal undergoes mathematical deconvolution. In step 600, the new reference spectrum is compared to the stored reference spectrum. In step 700, the sample spectrum is processed. In step 800, correction is applied to the spectrum signal by mathematical means. The result is a corrected spectrum of sample with total compensation for intensity drifts wavelength shifts, and other spectral distortions. 
     The reference spectra obtained in this matter is useful for wavelength calibration. It is also clear that the applicability of this &#34;in-line&#34; technique for dynamic drift compensation, which requires less fundamental and more complicated algorithmic approaches can be achieved with chemometrics implementation including Partial Least Squares (PLS), Principle Component Analysis (PCR), etc. This concept has been first proposed for implementation and defined in 1989. 
     There are many other applications for this type of method. The foregoing description is intended primarily for purposes of illustration. This invention may be embodied in other forms or carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Modifications and variations still falling within the spirit or the scope of the invention will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art.